By Ben Phillips
Grass-court tennis often throws up surprise contenders, and this year’s ATP 500 event at Queen’s Club delivered exactly that as Francisco Cerundolo captured the biggest grass-court title of his career with a hard-fought 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Tommy Paul in Sunday’s final.
The Argentine arrived in London as the seventh seed and left with a statement title that could significantly alter expectations ahead of Wimbledon. While Queen’s Club has traditionally been one of the most important indicators of potential success at the All England Club, the absence of several of the sport’s biggest names means this year’s event may not carry quite the same predictive value. Nevertheless, Cerundolo’s performances throughout the week showed a player capable of troubling anyone on the sport’s fastest surface. Here, QualityShot Tennis journalist Ben Phillips analyses a week of fantastic tennis at Queens and looks at what that could mean for Wimbledon.
Cerundolo Shows His Grass-Court Credentials
For much of his career, Cerundolo has been viewed primarily as a clay-court specialist. His powerful forehand and ability to construct points patiently have often flourished on slower surfaces, but his run in London demonstrated significant growth in his all-court game.
The 27-year-old faced multiple stern examinations during the tournament and repeatedly showcased the resilience required to succeed on grass.
His quarter-final against Britain’s Arthur Fery was one of the standout matches of the week. Fery, backed by a passionate home crowd, pushed Cerundolo all the way before the Argentine edged through 7-6, 3-6, 6-4. The match highlighted Cerundolo’s composure in key moments, particularly when facing the momentum swings that often define grass-court contests.
That resilience was tested once again in the semi-finals against Brandon Nakashima. After dropping a tight opening-set tiebreak, Cerundolo could easily have seen the match slip away. Instead, he raised his level significantly, using his forehand to dictate rallies and applying consistent pressure on Nakashima’s serve. The result was a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory that secured his place in the final.
By the time Sunday arrived, Cerundolo had already demonstrated his ability to win difficult matches under pressure. The final would provide perhaps his biggest challenge yet.
Tommy Paul Continues His Strong Season
Standing across the net was Tommy Paul, one of the ATP Tour’s most consistent performers this season.
The American enjoyed an outstanding week in London and entered the championship match without having dropped a single set. His route to the final included impressive victories over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarter-finals and Ugo Humbert in the semi-finals.
Paul’s aggressive baseline game and athletic movement make him a natural fit for grass courts, and throughout the week he looked increasingly comfortable on the surface. His ability to absorb pace and transition quickly from defence to attack had been one of the defining features of his tournament.
In the opening set of the final, Paul continued where he had left off. Both players served effectively, creating very few opportunities for breaks. A tiebreak ultimately separated them, with the American producing the cleaner tennis in the crucial moments to edge ahead.
At that stage, Paul appeared well positioned to continue his flawless run through the tournament.
A Champion’s Response
What followed, however, perfectly encapsulated why Cerundolo deserved the title.
Rather than allowing the disappointment of losing the opening set to affect him, the Argentine elevated his game. He began taking the ball earlier, attacking second serves and using his forehand to force Paul into increasingly defensive positions.
The second set remained closely contested, but Cerundolo found the breakthrough he needed to claim it 6-4 and level the match.
With momentum now firmly on his side, the seventh seed carried that confidence into the deciding set. His groundstrokes grew more authoritative, while his serve continued to deliver in the biggest moments. Paul battled hard, but Cerundolo consistently appeared the fresher and more aggressive player during the closing stages.
A 6-3 third set completed a memorable comeback and secured the Queen’s Club title, the biggest grass-court achievement of his career.
What Does It Mean For Wimbledon?
Queen’s Club has long been viewed as one of the most reliable indicators of Wimbledon success. Previous champions have often gone on to enjoy deep runs at the All England Club, using the tournament as the perfect preparation for the season’s third Grand Slam.
This year, however, the picture is slightly different.
Several of the sport’s biggest stars were absent from London. World number one Jannik Sinner and seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic both chose to rest and focus their preparations elsewhere before Wimbledon begins.
Meanwhile, French Open champion Alexander Zverev and fellow top names Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz opted to compete at the ATP 500 event in Halle, leaving the Queen’s Club field without some of the players expected to challenge for the Wimbledon title.
As a result, it would perhaps be unwise to read too much into the tournament when predicting who will lift the trophy in southwest London over the next fortnight.
Yet that should not diminish what Cerundolo achieved.
Winning an ATP 500 title on grass requires a unique combination of serving quality, confidence and mental toughness. Throughout the week, Cerundolo repeatedly demonstrated all three.
He won three consecutive deciding-set matches against quality opposition and showed an ability to remain calm under pressure when the stakes were at their highest.
Confidence at the Perfect Time
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Queen’s Club is not necessarily that Cerundolo should suddenly be considered one of the favourites for Wimbledon, but that he arrives at the tournament carrying immense confidence.
The Argentine has often produced impressive performances against elite opposition on slower surfaces, but his London triumph suggests his game may be becoming increasingly effective across all conditions.
For Tommy Paul, the week also represented an encouraging step forward. Reaching the final without dropping a set confirmed his credentials as a dangerous grass-court player and reinforced his status as a potential dark horse heading into Wimbledon.
Ultimately, though, Queen’s Club belonged to Cerundolo. In a week where he was repeatedly pushed to his limits, he consistently found solutions.
From battling past Arthur Fery and Brandon Nakashima to overturning Tommy Paul in the final, the Argentine delivered the kind of performances that define champions.
Whether that form translates into a deep Wimbledon run remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Francisco Cerundolo heads to tennis’ biggest stage with momentum, belief and the biggest grass-court title of his career firmly in his possession.
